Hypatia of Alexandria (355 - 416)

Hypatia was a pagan philosopher, mathematician, and astronomer who may have invented the plane astrolabe, the graduated brass ​hydrometer, and the hydroscope, with her student and colleague, Synesius. Towards the end of her life, Hypatia advised Orestes, the Roman prefect of Alexandria, who was in the midst of a political feud with Cyril, the bishop of Alexandria. Rumors spread accusing her of preventing Orestes from reconciling with Cyril and, in March 415, she was murdered by a mob of Christians led by a lector named Peter. Hypatia's murder shocked the empire and transformed her into a "martyr for philosophy", leading future Neoplatonists such as Damascius to become increasingly fervent in their opposition to Christianity. During the Middle Ages, Hypatia was co-opted as a symbol of Christian virtue and scholars believe she was part of the basis for the legend of Saint Catherine of Alexandria. During the Age of Enlightenment, she became a symbol of opposition to Catholicism. In the nineteenth century, European literature, especially Charles Kingsley's 1853 novel Hypatia, romanticized her as "the last of the Hellenes". In the twentieth century, Hypatia became seen as an icon for women's rights and a precursor to the feminist movement. Since the late twentieth century, some portrayals have associated Hypatia's death with the destruction of the Library of Alexandria, despite the historical fact that the library no longer existed during Hypatia's lifetime. Source: Wikipedia

Known for
She is the first female mathematician whose life is "reasonably well recorded"

Renowned in her own lifetime as a great teacher and a wise counselor.

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Wikipedia

Works based on
Agora, 2009 film starring Rachel Weisz as Hypatia

Hypatia, 1853 novel by Charles Kingsley